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Local hospitals forced to start rationing medications amid shortage of cancer drugs

TACOMA, Wash. — Cancer centers across the country are scrambling to get patients the medication they need.

America is facing one of the greatest cancer drug shortages on record, and some Washington hospitals are already being forced to ration medication.

Tacoma’s MultiCare Regional Cancer Center is one of the hospitals that are already seeing an impact, so much so, that they have dedicated staff members to spend hours on the phone, calling manufacturers each day as other hospitals compete to get the medicines they need.

“We have a coordinator for our pharmacy, who literally spends three hours a day calling manufacturers for each of these drugs and all of the wholesalers,” said Steve Pickette, with MultiCare Hospital Systems. “So it’s just really a crazy situation. Everybody’s scrambling daily to get what they can.”

The shortage is historic and could have severe, if not deadly, outcomes.

“She has stage 4 germ cell cancer. She’s 3 years old and she’s on her second round of treatment,” said Emily Stenson, whose daughter, Charlie, has had chemo delays.

Cancer patients already in the fight of their lives are now facing another hurdle: access to care.

“Our number one priority should just be keeping her happy and comfortable while she’s healing,” said Stenson.

International supply chain issues have created a shortage of 14 cancer drugs, impacting chemotherapy, infusions, and patient prescriptions nationwide, with no end in sight.

“They said they’re getting about 10% of the normal supply of some of these medications. So, it’s gonna go on for a while, and it’s gonna get more difficult,” said Steve Pickett.

Pickett oversees pharmacies within the MultiCare health system. He says the shortage in Pierce County and south King County is already impacting palliative care.

“If their cancer can’t be cured but they use chemotherapy drugs to slow the pace or to provide more comfort, we’re having to restrict or change how those patients are treated,” said Pickett.

He says for some, it means dying sooner or in more pain. For other patients, the shortage can mean switching to drugs that are less effective or have additional side effects.

KIRO 7 reached out to other local cancer centers about the shortage.

Beverly Mayhew with PeaceHealth says, ‘The shortage is affecting virtually all cancer infusion locations around the country, including at PeaceHealth St. Joseph in Bellingham.’

Emily Benefield, the manager of Pharmacy Clinical Programs at Seattle Children’s writes, ‘At Seattle Children’s, we are actively implementing mitigation strategies and coordinating with other regional healthcare institutions and professional organizations to combat these shortages. We are switching to alternative medications where applicable and seeking alternative sources approved by the FDA.’

Dr. Tom Purcell the Chief Medical Officer for Fred Hutch writes, ‘Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is currently not experiencing major impacts to our patients due to the national cancer drug shortages. We have been proactively preparing to ensure ongoing treatment for our patients and closely managing our inventory of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments to maintain that ongoing care.’